Hollyleaf took a bite of fish at her paws. Cherrypaw had caught it earlier. It had been a few days since Fallen Leaves had told her that he overhead a ThunderClan patrol talking about how they wanted to search for her. However, there had been no such sign of any cat coming into the tunnels. But that wasn't all that Hollyleaf was worrying about. Something was happening with Fallen Leaves.
Hollyleaf could always see the gray cave walls through Fallen Leaves, and now she could barely see through his fur. She wasn't sure what was happening. She looked up as she saw Cherrypaw padding towards her, a look of guilt on her face. "What's wrong, Cherrypaw?" She asked.
Cherrypaw stared at the ground. "I think I've changed my mind about staying here," she meowed. "I know I said that I wanted to stay with you guys, but... I've been thinking about things, about home. I think I was in shock about my brother's death. Grief clouded my mind. I guess I was trying to use all this as a distraction. I think I want to go back to ThunderClan," she meowed, lifting her head to look at Hollyleaf.
Hollyleaf felt a tiny bit of shock pulse through her, but she wasn't too surprised. She was young, and experiencing the death of her own brother must have been a lot for her. "Are you sure? You told the Clan that you wanted to be a kittypet," she pointed out.
"The longer I stay down here, the more I miss my family. And they miss me. I'll really miss you, though. You felt like a sister to me," Cherrypaw said, her eyes shimmering.
"I'll miss you too," Hollyleaf meowed. She suddenly realized that she missed ThunderClan too. But I can't go back. "Go, then, before it gets dark outside."
"Thank you," Cherrypaw dipped her head. "I hope you can come back to ThunderClan someday," she mewed, and then turned to walk away.
Hollyleaf felt a pang of longing. She wished she could join her. She realized that she missed her littermates. But I've discovered a new life with Fallen Leaves.
Hollyleaf groomed her paw as she watched Cherrypaw walk away. She almost wanted to convince the apprentice the stay, but she knew it wasn't her right to decide the she-cat's future. Her body stayed glued to the ground and she stared hard at her fish.
A few moments had passed, and paw steps sounded behind her. Hollyleaf saw Fallen Leaves approaching, a distant look in his eyes. She got up and sprinted over to him. "What's wrong? You look..."
"It's nothing," Fallen Leaves sighed, avoiding her gaze. Then his green eyes glanced back towards her and he began to look less reluctant to tell her what was on his mind. "I had a dream again. About the tunnels," he murmured.
Hollyleaf nuzzled his cheek, trying to comfort him. "I'm sorry you have to keep reliving that," she mewed softly.
"But it was different. This silhouette of a cat swam to me in the water and pulled me out of the tunnels," Fallen Leaves continued, his tail flicking. "Most of the time, my tunnel dreams end with my death," he sighed, pressing against Hollyleaf.
Hollyleaf pressed hard against him, her paws close to his. She wished there was some kind of way to get him to stop having those kinds of dreams. "Do you think it has a meaning?" She questioned.
"I'm no medicine cat," Fallen Leaves chuckled softly. "I do think it means something though. I'm not quite sure yet, but.... maybe it's about you?" He prompted.
"Really now? Am I some hero cat that's going to save you?" Hollyleaf asked, narrowing her eyes in amusement.
Fallen Leaves eyes flashed for a second. He curled his tail in amusement. "Maybe you will," he meowed softly, beginning to purr. The two cats sat with each other for a few more heartbeats, then Fallen Leaves stirred. "Where's Cherrypaw? I hardly ever see her leave your side."
Hollyleaf stiffened. "She left. She went back to ThunderClan," she meowed, her shoulders drooping. "I didn't stop her. I let her make her choice," she explained, then added, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry? For Cherrypaw leaving? That's not your fault, you know. It's fine if Cherrypaw wanted to go back," Fallen Leaves meowed, his tail flicking.
"It's not that," Hollyleaf sighed. "Her decision to leave has made me question my own decision. I miss ThunderClan! I miss my brothers! I miss Clan life!" She blurted, her fur rising. "But I can't go back. I'm a traitor, and I would also be betraying you!"
"Hollyleaf-- What?" Fallen Leaves gasped. "I'm not holding you here. You wouldn't be a traitor for missing your Clan and family, I would know. If you want to go back, I wouldn't mind. Do what makes you happy, Hollyleaf," Fallen Leaves meowed. "I just want you to be happy." His green gaze was so soft that it made Hollyleaf's heart melt.
Hollyleaf could feel her blood coursing through her veins. Her paws felt light and floaty, like she could fly. "You're the one that makes me happy!" She meowed. "I can't go back-- because I love you too much," she whined. She pressed her nose to his head, her heart pounding. "You've been here for me. You've been kind and compassionate. I don't want to leave you, not even for my Clan, and that's the problem! I'm stuck between two worlds," she whimpered.
I lost motivation to work on my stories, but I've also been extremely busy with college. After reading the new Warriors book, I actually gained some motivation for writing again. I will try to finish this book, although it might take a while.
YOU ARE READING
Warriors: Hollyleaf's kits
Fanfiction(Hollyleaf lives longer with Fallen Leaves in the tunnels, and later finds out she is expecting his kits. She is confused how a StarClan cat could get her pregnant, but stays with her mate. Later, she gives birth to her four kits, which might change...
